from Princess Seismograph (Seattle)

Cait Rippey’s Touch Me is the illustrated story of her boating adventure to Cypress Island, during which she recollects the poem “Touch Me” by Stanley Kunitz. The poem takes over and moves her through time and space and the story feels so out-loud that the illustrations become what’s written. Cait’s boating companions are never introduced so we must have always known them, and everything is more intimate for being wrapped in a construction paper wave. –Maggie Ginestra